Local Democrats, Republicans select their candidates

Blume and Carson seek political posts

The longtime director of the Seacoast Democrats received her party's nod to run for state representative from York this fall. And a veteran Republican campaigner from Kittery is seeking the state Senate seat in southern York County.

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By Deborah McDermott

seacoastonline.com

By Deborah McDermott

Posted Jul. 25, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Deborah McDermott
Posted Jul. 25, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

The longtime director of the Seacoast Democrats received her party's nod to run for state representative from York this fall. And a veteran Republican campaigner from Kittery is seeking the state Senate seat in southern York County.

Lydia Blume of York was selected by the York Democratic Town Committee on Wednesday night to run for the District 3 House seat. The previously declared candidate, state Rep. Paul McGowan, withdrew due to health reasons. Blume will be running against York Republican Arthur Kyricos.

Republicans from York, Kittery, Eliot, South Berwick and Ogunquit were expected Thursday night to select Kittery Republican John Carson to run for state Senate District 35. State Rep. Windol Weaver, R-York, this month withdrew his name from consideration.

The seat is currently held by state Sen. Dawn Hill, D-York.

Lydia Blume

Blume is the longtime executive director of the Seacoast Democrats and has worked to elect candidates to Augusta and Washington, D.C. As such, she said, "I have the energy, the dedication and knowledge of what a successful campaign would require of me."

District 3 was created under a state redistricting plan last year. It encompasses all of York east of Interstate 95. She said this coastal district must prepare for "future challenges, especially those created by sea-level rise" in a way that is "collaborative, ongoing and that fairly assesses the costs."

Blume said she is concerned that "women's health and choices are under attack, and I want to be part of defending our hard-earned rights."

Many people in York, she said, are working to plan for the town's future, and "I want to represent their good work and ideas at the state level."

She said she is worried about "the effects of erosion — past and future — on our economy, our shores, our rights and our privacy."

John Carson

Carson ran for state representative from Kittery in 2010 and 2012. He said he is running for the state Senate "because I am very serious about our constitutional process, and the process says we ought to have elections between people with differing points of view."

When Weaver withdrew his name from consideration last week, the Republican Party did not have a candidate to put on the ballot. Carson said he was approached only recently about running. "We weren't planning this, but here we are," he said.

He said his candidacy is in its infancy, but he will look closely at Hill's record in the coming weeks. "She has a credible record, but there are some things I would have done differently."

Carson said he wants to concentrate his campaign on creating jobs and reducing taxes. "I'm big on human dignity, and you give people dignity by encouraging them and providing tools so they can take care of themselves."

He said he looks forward to meeting voters in the district in coming months. "I want to get input from the people — hear what's important to them."